Travel Gallery & Redpoll Frenzy

There are two times of the year when there is a change in who’s who in bird species that reside in our area and other parts of the world. During the fall, the winter visitors arrive as our summer residents leave. At this time of the year, the winter migrants are headed back north and we are patiently awaiting for our summer residents to come back so there is often a shortage of images to post.

Meanwhile, at the Stinnissen aviary, we have seen a huge jump in the numbers of Common Redpolls that are feeding on the niger seed I provide. Last week, I had an unopened 50lb bag that I thought I would have until the fall and now it is already half empty. The Common Redpolls arrive several times a day in large numbers and occupy almost every free spot on both of the feeders. The ones that can’t get a spot on the feeders end up eating off the ground. The second image shows the seed hulls falling like snow.

And of course, it is great to see the return of the American Robins, always a sign of spring. The title of this post refers to a new gallery within my website that I hope to add to on a regular basis. My first entry is a few of my favourite images from our trip to Costa Rica in Dec 2011. You will find it by following this link – http://www.arniworks.com/portfolio/travel/tropical/

I had a 50lb bag of Niger seed in the middle of March which I expected to see my through the summer, well that plan has been dashed. Do they know something we don’t, why aren’t they going home? Touche on the Scarlett Macaws!